In the same way good eating and exercise habits can have beneficial effects on our physical health, good habits (daily patterns) can have a beneficial effect on our Christian life.
But just like a wise health coach will tailor an eating and exercise program to fit an individual, so we should tailor our spiritual habits to fit our strengths, weaknesses and aspirations.
We select habits to develop strengths because these are areas where we are best able to contribute to others. God gives us strengths and gifts so we can help others, as pointed out in Romans 15:1: “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.” The spiritual gifts God give us are also for the benefit of others, as explained by 1Corinthians 12:7: “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” As we build up our strengths and gifts through our habits, we become better equipped servants of God and others
We use habits to guard against our weaknesses to avoid doing harm to ourselves and others. As pointed out in Hebrews 2:1: “…we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Likewise, as pointed out in 1 Peter 5:8 we need to be of sober spirit and on the alert, because our adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Our daily habits can be part of the guard we place on ourselves and our hearts.
We use habits to accomplish our aspirations because what we do daily forms who we become. As pointed out in Galatians 6:7, whatever a man sows, he reaps. Our daily habits sow the seeds that blossom into our character and destiny. Our faithfulness in small things, translates into faithfulness in large things (Luke 16:10). Our daily habits establishes a foundation of Godliness on which God can build a large house of ministry to others.
Using another analogy, daily habits are like the unseen roots, hidden below ground, that extend to extract nourishment from the stream of God’s love (See Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17). The result is a large fruitful tree that blesses many even in times of drought. In stormy times, a deep root system provides stability to allow the tree to weather the storm and live to minister in another day.
So when selecting habits for spiritual health, assess your strengths, weaknesses and aspirations. Then, in light of this, intentionally build devotional habits to accentuate your strengths, shore up your weaknesses and actualize your aspirations.